P786 Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among patients with inflammatory bowel disease in Qatar: Prevalence and risk factors

Abstract

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has been progressively identified in inflammatory bowel disease patients in Qatar, though metabolic risk factors for NAFLD are less frequent in patients with IBD. Objectives: We aimed to characterize NAFLD in IBD patients and to determine factors associated with its severity. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted between January 2008 and December 2017 at Hamad Hospital, Doha, Qatar. Results: Of 913 IBD patients with a mean age of 36.9 ± 13.2 years and BMI 26.9 ± 6.1; 550 (60.2%) were males, 383 (41.9%) with Crohn's disease and 530 (58.1%) with Ulcerative colitis. 24 (22.2%) patients had severe steatosis. The overall prevalence of NAFLD was 11.8% and does not differ significantly between CD and UC patients. Multivariate analysis showed age>40 to 50 years, age>50 years, BMI>30 kg/m2 and diabetes mellitus significantly associated with an increased risk of NAFLD. Females were less likely having risk of NAFLD in comparison to males. The treatment with biologic does not increase the risk of steatosis. The predicted cutoff NAFLD score C -1.67 had good predictive ability for significant steatosis in IBD cases. Conclusions: The prevalence of NAFLD is not uncommon among IBD patients in Qatar. Older age, high BMI and diabetes mellitus increase risk and high-risk patients need to be closely monitored and considered for early interventions that may limit the use of more hepatotoxic drugs. Non-invasive NAFLD screening using NAFLD Score could assist in early disease diagnosis and can be easily implemented in any setting of IBD clinics.